GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH

ABSTRACT
Mines & Minerals -New Sand Mining Policy - 2014 extraction - Orders - Issued.

Rules and Procedures for

INDUSTRIES & COMMERCE (MINES -IV) DEPARTMENT

G.O.MS.No. 95.

Dated:28. 8 .2014
Read the following:

1) G.O.Ms.No.1172, Industries & Commerce Department,

dated:04-09-1967.
2) G.O.Ms.No.24, Industries & Commerce Department, dated:12-02-2007.
3) G.O.Ms.No.84, Industries & Commerce Department, dated:10-04-2007.
4) G.O.Rt.No.4044 General Administration (Cabinet) Department,
dated:01-09-2012.
5) G.O.Rt.No.4093 General Administration (Cabinet) Department,
dated:04-09-2012.
6) G.O.Ms.No.142, Industries & Commerce Department, dated:13-10-2012.
7) G.O.Ms.No.154, Industries & Commerce Department,
dated: 15.11.2012.
8) From the Director of Mines & Geology Lr. No.. 5864/P1/2007,
Dated:17-9-2013.
9) G.O.Ms.No.186, Industries & Commerce Department,
dated: 17.12.2013.
10) G.O.Ms.No.63, Industries & Commerce Department, dated:22.02.2014.
11) G.O.Ms.No.94, dated:28.08.2014 on sand policy 2014.
***
The following Notification shall be published in an extraordinary issue of
the A.P. Gazette, dated:28-08-2014.
NOTIFICATION
In exercise of the powers conferred under sub-section (1) of Section 15 of
the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (Act No.67 of
1957), the Governor of Andhra Pradesh hereby issues the following orders in
suppression of the orders issued earlier vide references cited.
(1)

Identification of sand bearing areas:

Identification of sand bearing areas in III, IV & V and above order Streams
shall be done by this District Level Sand Committee (DLSC). To implement
this scheme successfully, the District Administration shall put in place a proper
administrative mechanism for enforcement of extraction and transportation of
sand. A District Level Sand Committee is constituted with the following:
(1) District Collector Chairman.
(2) Joint Collector Vice Chairman.
(3) Superintendent of Police Vice Chairman
(4) Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Parishad.
(5) CE/SE, Irrigation/Executive Engineer, Irrigation/River Conservator.
(6) Project Director, District Water Management Agency.
(7) Project Officer, ITDA.
(8) District Panchayat Officer.
(9) Executive Engineer, RWS.
(10) Deputy Director, Ground Water Department.
(11) Assiarant Director of Mines and Geology.

-2(12) President, Zilla Mahila Samakhya.

(13) Project Director, DRDA

Convenor.

(2) Parameters for identification of specified sand bearing areas

feasible for sand quarrying:
In areas where sand mining is affecting groundwater regime, such
areas shall be notified by the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development
Department. Mining and transportation of sand shall be prohibited in
notified overexploited ground water micro basins. For other areas, the
following conditions shall apply for mining sand:(a)(i) Sand extraction upto III order Streams will be permitted in notified
areas. However, sand extraction by mechanical means is banned.
Also transportation of sand from these notified areas out of the local
jurisdiction i.e. Mandal is banned.
(ii) In IV order streams, sand extraction shall be restricted to specified
areas.
(iii) In V order and above streams like Godavari, Krishna, Penna etc.,
sand
mining will be permitted without affecting the existing
sources for Irrigation, drinking water or industrial purpose.
(b).

The allottees shall not carryout quarrying within 500m of any

existing structure such as bridges, dams, weirs or any other cross
drainage structure.

(c). Vehicles carrying sand shall not ply over the flood banks except at
crossing points or bridges or on a metal road.
(d).

Permission to sand quarrying shall not be granted within 500 Mts of

any ground water extraction structure(s) either for irrigation or
drinking water purposes.

(e). The streams / rivers where the thickness of sand is quite good (more
than 8.00 Meters) the depth of removal may be extended to 2.00
Meters but in no case beyond two meters.

(3)

(f).

Sand quarrying shall not be permitted in streams within 15 Meters or

1/5 of the width of the stream bed from the bank whichever is
more.

(g).

Sand mining shall not be permitted in streams where the thickness

of sand deposition is less than 2.00 Meters.

(h).

The depth of sand extraction shall be restricted to one meter

particularly in minor streams where the thickness is more than
3.00 Meters and less than 8.00 Meters.

(i).

Sand quarrying shall be restricted to depths above the water table

recorded during monsoon and in no case be allowed to affect the
water table.

(j).

The quantity of sand deposited annually in every stream or river

shall be monitored by establishing observation stations along the
stream course.

Role of District Level Sand Committee (DLSC):

(a) The respective DLSC shall take up joint inspection to fix the boundaries
of the Specified Sand bearing area and assess the sand in terms of
quantity including the designated ramps as cleared by River Conservator.
(Contd3)

-3(b) The DLSC shall ensure that the identification of areas feasible for
extraction shall be on a continuous basis.
(c) The respective District Collectors shall allot to APMDC all such specified
sand bearing areas which have been identified.
(4)

Role of Andhra
(APMDC):

Pradesh

Mineral

Development

Corporation

APMDC shall follow the procedure as prescribed below:(i)

Prepare feasibility report for sand bearing areas for both open and
in-stream extraction.

(ii)

Obtain Approved Mining Plans from the competent authority i.e.

Mines & Geology Department.

(iii)

Obtain Environmental Clearance, CFE & CFO from the competent

authorities.

(iv)

The expenditure required for obtaining all clearances shall be met

by APMDC.

(v) APMDC will allot Sand reaches in consultation with the CEO,SERP
and the District Collector to the District/Mandal Mahila Samakhyas
or Gramasangams, as the case may be, for undertaking sand
quarrying depending on the potential of each sand reach.
(5)

Arriving at sale price:

(i) The base price for sale of sand per tonne will be fixed by APMDC.
(ii) The District Level Sand Committee (DLSC) shall fix price over and
above the base price fixed by APMDC by taking into account the cost
of transportation and other logistics costs.
(iii) Sand will be made available at reasonable price both at the quarry site
and as well as at various stock points that would be established.
(iv) The extraction will be carried out scientifically and the entire process
will be monitored using CC cameras at Quarry sites as well as stock
points.
(v) All the payments will be only through the banking system and no cash
transactions shall be allowed.
(vi) An amount not exceeding 25% of the net profits would be made over
to the Women Groups.

(6)

Use of Machinery for extraction of sand:

The District Collector may permit use of Machinery for extraction
of sand in specified sand bearing areas where there is no impact
on Ground Water Table.

(7)

Operational guidelines:
The operational guidelines for quarrying of sand by District Women Self
Help Groups shall be issued by the Rural Development Department
particularly CEO, SERP in consultation with District Collectors.
(contd..)

-4(8)

State Level Committee:

The following comprise the State Level Committee:(i) Principal Secretary Industries & Commerce (Mines) Department.
(ii) Principal Secretary, Rural Development Department.
(iii) Principal Secretary, Irrigation & CAD.
(iv)Vice Chairman &Managing Director, A.P.Mineral Development
Corporation Ltd.,
(v) CEO, SERP.
(vi) Commissioner, Rural Development.
(vii) Director Ground Water.
(viii) Director of Mines and Geology.
(ix) Engineer in Chief (Irrigation).

The above committee shall meet once in a month to review the

performance and issue guide lines for proper implementation of the rules.
(9)

Capacity Building:
A.P.Mineral Development
Corporation Ltd., Department of Mines &
Geology and Department of Rural Development at the State level and the
Collector and S.P at the District level will provide necessary guidance and
support which includes capacity building, meeting working capital
requirements, procuring of machinery for sand extraction, transport,
loading and unloading, safety and protection of Women Self Help Groups
etc.

(10) Regulation of Sand extraction in III, IV & V order and above

Streams/Rivers:
(i) Sand extraction upto III order Streams will be permitted in notified
areas following the Rules given below:
(a)
Panchayat Secretary of concerned Gram Panchayat shall issue
way bills for each trip as prescribed by the Mandal Parishad
Development Officer(MPDO).
(b)
Transportation of sand shall be by means of bullock
carts/Tractors only.
(c)
The Mandal shall be treated as a unit for free movement of
sand within the jurisdiction.
(ii)

The transportation of sand extracted from IV order and above

Streams/ Rivers shall be utilized anywhere within the State.

(11) Disposal of Stream/River sand in specified sand bearing areas

located partially/fully in scheduled areas:
Specified sand bearing areas located partially/fully in Scheduled
Areas will be allotted to APMDC as per Andhra Pradesh Panchayat
Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Rules, 2011. APMDC shall allocate
these areas to Women Self Help Groups in consultation with Integrated
Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) and District Collector concerned. Any
additional Operational guidelines for ITDA areas will be issued by APMDC
in consultation with ITDAs and District Collectors concerned.
(12) Rules for the sand sourced from Reservoirs/Tank Beds:
(i)

(a) The de-siltation of Major, Medium & Minor Reservoirs and Tanks
as defined by the I&CAD Dept., shall be taken up to enhance the
storage capacity of the reservoirs and augment Ground Water
recharge in Command Areas besides recovering sand for construction
industry use.
(contd..)

-5(b) The following authorities shall identify the de-siltation of

reservoirs and intimate to the District Collector and Chairman of the
District Level Sand Committee:(i) Major, Medium, Reservoirs Engineer-in-chief.
(ii)Minor Reservoirs and Tanks Superintendent Engineer,
Irrigation Department of the District.
(c)
Irrigation and C.A. Department at the State Level shall
identify and notify all major and medium reservoirs and entrust
these to the District Collectors concerned.
(d)
Similarly, the CE/SE/EE Irrigation at the District Level shall
identify and notify all minor reservoirs and major tanks. These will
be entrusted to the District Collectors concerned.
(e) The District Level Sand Committee chaired by District Collector
shall allot the identified Reservoirs to Women Self Help Groups.
(f) The period of de-siltation shall be as specified by the I&CAD
Department. No EC, CFE & CFO is required for de-siltation process.
(g) The operational guidelines for de-siltation of irrigation projects
shall be issued by DLSC.
(ii) Sand sourced during the de-silting process shall be subject to APMMC
Rules, 1966 and dispatched by obtaining way bills as per Form-S9
issued by the Member-Convenor on payment of Seigniorage fee in
advance.
(iii) Sand sourced from de-silting operations also need a Mineral Dealer
License from Deputy Director of Mines and Geology concerned as per
A.P. Mineral Dealer Rules, 2000.
(iv) Regulation of sand quarrying in Reservoirs shall be by authorities
mentioned for regulation of sand extraction in case of III, IV, V and
above streams.
(13) De-casting sand from Patta lands:
(i)

In case of the sand casted pattalands abutting the Riverbeds, if the

pattadar intends to de-cast sand by himself, he may approach the
District Collector and Chairman of the DLSC. He has to give his
consent in writing for de-casting of sand from his pattaland. The
DLSC will get the sand casted land inspected for estimation of sand
and then allot the area to the Women Self Help Groups till it is
notified as part of river bed under River Conservancy Act, 1884. The
Pattadar may get 25% of the net profit as compensation per cubic
meter as his share.

(ii)

The operational guidelines for regulation of sand extraction from the

patta lands shall be issued by the District Level Sand Committee
from time to time.

(iii) De-casting of sand from patta lands located in the river bed/course,
shall be subject to the conditions stipulated in these Rules, EC, CFE &
CFO issued by MoEF and APPCB respectively and also to the conditions
stipulated specifically by the River Conservator concerned.
(contd..)

-6(14) Responsibility of the Mahila Samakyas and Grama Sangams:

(i) They shall:
(a) abide by the rules and conditions made under in these Rules, the River
Conservancy Act, 1884, and the Environment Protection Act, 1986,
subsequent amendments issued by the State and Central Governments
from time to time.
(b) conduct operations as stipulated in these Rules and in accordance with
the conditions imposed in Approved Mining Plan & Environment
Clearance issued by MoEF.
(c) extract and dispatch sand from the specified sand bearing area to
approved stockyard alongwith the transit forms (way bills) in Form-S7
issued by the Member Convenor after paying the Seigniorage fee and
other taxes at the prevailing rate.
(d) establish stockyards with weigh bridges and dispose sand either from
quarry site or from stock points. The DLSC shall assist and secure
Mineral Dealer License to the Women Self Help Groups as per A.P.
Mineral Dealer Rules, 2000 framed under section 23-C of the Mines &
Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957 from the competent
authority.
(e) Women Self Help Groups shall obtain transit passes from the MemberConvenor in Form-E under the Andhra Pradesh Mineral Dealer Rules,
2000 and dispatch sand from the stockyard.
(f) abide by the sale price as fixed by the DLSC for dispatch from both
quarrying site and the stockyard.
(g) not use tractors of more than 3 Cu.Mt. capacity for transportation of
sand from specified sand bearing area to approved stockyard.
(h) In order to make ramps, pathways and lifting of sand in sand bearing
area upto permitted depth, machinery is permitted subject to
condition that there is no impact on ground water table.
(i) maintain daily production and dispatch register at the specified sand
bearing area and stockyard.
(j) Furnish returns prescribed under various statutes to the MemberConvenor, who in-turn shall consolidate the specified sand bearing
area-wise data and furnish to the DLSC on or before 5th of the
succeeding month.
(k) No individual Women SHG shall have any exclusive rights for
extension of lease agreement for extraction of sand;
(l) be penalized for any extraction of sand beyond the specified area and
thickness for any other violations as decided by the DLSC.
(15) Crushed Stone Sand as alternative to natural sand:
(i) Alternate to River sand in the form of Crushed Stone Sand
(Manufactured Sand) shall be encouraged from the conservation point
of view to River bed/in-Stream sand quarrying operations at affordable
cost be made available to meet the requirement of bulk consumers.
(ii) APMDC will support Zilla Mahila Samakhyas in establishing Manufacture
Sand Units wherever feasible.
(iii) Preference will be given in granting leases for stone & metal to those
Women SHGs establishing manufacture sand units.
(16) Apportionment of Seigniorage Fee to Zilla Parishad General
Funds:
100% Seigniorage Fee shall be remitted to the General Funds under
the Head of Account of Zilla Parishad concerned. The District Collector
shall apportion these funds in the ratio of 25:50:25 among Zilla Parishad,
Mandal Parishad and Gram Panchayat respectively as per existing
Government instructions.
(Contd)

-7(17) Ban on sand transportation across border:

No transportation of sand from the State shall be made across the
border to other States.
(18) Offences:
(i)
Where vehicles without valid way bill
transportation of sand in contravention to these rules.
(a)

has

been

used

the

If any vehicle is found to be involved for illegal extraction and

transportation of sand under these rules shall be levied penalty for
each vehicle as detailed below:-

Vehicle type

Tractor
Lorry upto
10 Tons capacity
Lorry above
10 tons Capacity

First
offender
amount
(in Rs.)
15,000

time Second
fine offender
amount
(in Rs.)
45,000

45,000

75,000

75,000

1,50,000

time
fine

(b) If the vehicle is found to be involved more than two times, such vehicle along
with sand shall be confiscated by any officer authorized by the Government
through notification from time to time.
(ii) Every officer seizing any vehicle under said sub-rule (1) shall place on such
vehicle, a mark indicating that the same has been seized and shall submit a
report of such seizure to the Competent Court of Law.
(iii) An authorized officer who seizes any vehicle shall order confiscation of the
vehicle so seized.
(iv) No order of confiscation of any vehicle shall be made under sub-rule
(v) unless the person from whom the vehicle is seized is given:(a) A notice in writing informing the person of the grounds on which it is
proposed to confiscate such property.
(b) An opportunity of making a representation in writing within such time
as may be specified in the notice against the grounds for confiscation;
and
(c) A reasonable opportunity of being heard in the matter.
(vi) without prejudice to the provisions of sub-rule (4), no order of confiscation
under sub-rule (3) of any machinery/vehicle shall be made if the owner of
the vehicle thereof proves to the satisfaction of the authorized officer that it
was used in carrying the operations without his knowledge or connivance or
the knowledge or connivance of his agent, if any, or the person in charge of
the vehicle in committing the offence and that each of them had taken all
reasonable and necessary precautions against such use. Provided that no
order prejudicial to any person shall be passed without being offered an
opportunity of being heard.
(vii) Any officer who seized any vehicle under Sub-rule (1)(iii) and where he
makes a report of such seizure to the competent court under sub rule (2)
may release the same on the execution a bond by the owner thereof for the
production of the vehicle so released, as and when directed by the
competent court.
(viii) The vehicle seized under this rule shall be kept in the custody of the Station
House Officer/Motor Vehicle Inspector concerned until an order of the
Competent Court of Law directing its disposal is received.
(Contd.)

-8(ix) Upon the receipt of any report under sub-rule (2), the Magistrate shall take
such measures as may be necessary for the trial of the accused and the
disposal of the vehicle according to law.
(19) Appeal and Revision:
(i) Upto III order Streams/Rivers:
(a) Any person aggrieved by an order passed by any local authority may
prefer the appeal before the DLSC within fifteen (15) days from the date of
receipt of such order.
(b) Any person aggrieved by an order of the Chairman, DLSC may prefer
revision before the District Collector within fifteen (15) days from the date
of receipt of such order.
(ii) IV, V & above order Streams/Rivers:
(a)Any person aggrieved by an order passed by local Mandal Authority
may prefer an appeal to the DLSC within thirty (30) days from the date
of receipt of such order.
(b) Any person aggrieved by an order passed by the DLSC may prefer
revision before the Principal Secretary/Secretary to Government
(Mining) Department within thirty (30) days from the date of receipt
of such order.
(20) Powers to Issue Orders/Clarifications/Guidelines :
(i) Upto III order streams, the Commissioner, Rural Development &
Administrator, shall be the authority competent to issue
orders/clarifications/ guidelines to settle the issues arise for cases
which are not explicitly mentioned herein.
(ii) For IV, V and above order streams, Secretary to Government, Rural
Development Department shall be the authority competent to issue
orders/clarifications/guidelines to settle any issues that may arise
from time to time.
The cases of illegal quarrying of sand in the areas other than the specified
sand bearing areas, shall be dealt as per the Rules under offences.
(BY ORDER IN THE NAME OF THE GOVERNOR OF ANDHRA PRADESH)
J.S.V. PRASEAD
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT
To
The Commissioner of Printing, Stationary & Stores Purchase (Ptg. Wing)
Hyderabad.
(He is requested to publish the above Notification in the ExtraOrdinary issue of A.P. Gazette, and arrange to send 2500 copies of the same
to Government in Industries & Commerce (M.IV) Department)
The Director of Translation, Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad.
(He is requested to furnish the Telugu version of the Notification direct to the
Commissioner, Printing, Stationery & Stores Purchase (Ptg.Wing),
Hyderabad)
The Director of Mines & Geology, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad.
All District Collectors/Joint Collectors
All Joint Directors of Mines & Geology
All Deputy Directors of Mines & Geology through Director of
All Assistant Directors of Mines & Geology Mines & Geology
The Commissioner of Panchayat Raj, Hyderabad
(Contd.)

-9The Commissioner & Director of Municipal Administration, Hyderabad.

The Panchayat Raj & Rural Development (Pts.III) Department.
Copy to:
The Secretary to Government of India, Department of Mines, New Delhi.
The Law (J) Department.
The Industries and Commerce (M.1/M.II/M.III) Department.
The P.S. to Honble Chief Minister.
The P.S. to Honble Minister for Mines and Geology.
The P.S. Principal Secretary to Government, Industries & Commerce (Mines)
Department.
Sf/Sc.(C.No.14645/M.I(1)/2013).

// FORWARDED :: BY ORDER //
{

SECTION OFFICER